Safety shutter for cinematographs



Nov. 3, 1931. A. SHAPIRO SAFETY SHUTTER FOR CINEMATOGRAPHS Filed April2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l z 5 a W ww V W w 04 4 3 & a 0 5 3 5 7 im 2 7 3Nov. 3, 1931. A. SHAPIRO SAFETY SHUTTER FOR CINEMATOGRAPHS Filed April2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [wavzfi Nov. 3, 1931. I A. SHAPIRO 1,830,567

SAFETY SHUTTER FOR CINEMATOGRAPHS Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ABRAHAM SHAPIRO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOUNIVERSAL STAMPING 80 MFG. 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS SAFETY SHUTTER FOR GINEMATOGRAPHS Application filed April 2,1930. Serial No. 441,019.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form ofcinematograph; to provide a cinematograph having Y an'improved form ofsafety shutter adapted to move automatically into the path of llght tointerrupt some of the light rays of the lamp immediately upon thestopping of the light interceptor so as to permit the showing of a stillpicture without injury to the film; to provide improvedmechanismoperable by the light interceptor for quick- .ly moving the safetyshutter out of the path of light when the interceptor commences to ingimproved means for dissipating much of the heat in the path of light.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a fragmentary side elevationof the front portion of a cinematograph casing with the side plateremoved so as to show the operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 33 ofFig. 2, showing the safety shutter in operative position for screeningthe light rays. c Fig. 4 is'a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing thesafety shutter in the position which it occupies while the interceptoris rotat- Fig. 5 is aperspective of the safety shutter.

' Fig. 6- is afragmentary side elevation,

. taken from the rightof Fig. 2 but showing the parts in the positionswhich they occupy during the rotation of the interceptor.

. Figs? is a vertical section, taken on the line 77Iof Fig. 2; the drumbeing omitted.

Fig. 8 is a detail, partly in elevation and partly in section, showingthe safety shutterand its operating means.

The accompany ng drawings show only those portions of a projector whichvare believed necessary to a thorough apprehension of the invention. Theimproved safety shutter. to which this invention is applied, may be usedin connection with many different types of cinematographs. In theconstrucrotate; and to provide a safety shutter hav tion is imparted toit bysuitable means, such as a reciprocating claw, for momentarilypositioning each picture directly in the path of light.

When the exhibition of what is known as a still picture is desired, itis necessary to stop the film feeding means and light interceptor. Ifthe film is stopped and the interceptor is positioned out of the path oflight for the purpose of exhibiting a still picture, the heat of thelamp is likely to blister the film unless the light rays are screened.For this-reason, high grade projectors are equipped with a fire shutteror safety shutter which is movable into the path of light for screeningthe light rays when the interceptor is stopped.

In the construction herein shown, the casing of the machine. which isonly partly shown, includes a side wall 1 having a gear housing 2 formedat its front end for housing a train of gears which drives the lightinterceptor, feeding claw, and film sprockets. A removable plate, notshown, is secured to the gear housing by screws 3. Formed on the frontend of the gear hou'smg, are lugs 4, on which are pivoted the arms, notshown, for supporting the film reels.

The train of gears in the housing includes gears 5 and 6 mounted onshafts 7 and 8. respectively, which support the film feeding sprockets.not shown. The gears and 6 mesh with a gear 9 driven by a pinion 10 on ashaft 11 which supports a gear 12. The gear 12 is driven by a pinion 13fast on a main drive shaft 14. The pinion 13 also meshes with a gear 15mounted on a shaft 16 which actuates the film feeding claw, not a hub 45which is recessed to form a guideshown. way 46 for a pair of radiallymovable gov- Also mounted on the drive shaft 14, is a ernor bodies-47,which, upon rotation of the gear 17 which drives a gear 18 secured togear 18, are thrown into frictional engageone end of a hollow shaft 19supported in ment with the drum 44 for shiftingthe safe- 9 bushings 20in a bearing 21 formed on the ty shutter out of the light path. Theweights wall 1. 47 are secured to the gear 18 by pins 48 en- Extendinglaterally from the wall 1 on gaging radial slots 49 in the gear. theside opposite the gear housing, is a front Embracing the periphery ofthe hub 45, is wall 22 having a light aperture 23, and a mid-' a springwire 50 which engages the weights 75 dle .partition 24 which supportsthe usual 47 forquickly retracting these weights upon condenser 25. Alamp 25.1 is located in a th topping of the gear 18. 1 mpartment ehindthe con ensel' Mounted on the outer face of the drum 44, Located in thefront compartment of the is a sheet metal plate 51 which has a lug 52 g,i a pp Shell 26 v g struck out therefrom for engaging an aper- 80metrically opposed apertures 27 a 28 in ture 53 in a link 54. Formed inthe link 54, alinement with the condenser and aperi 1 t 55 for-receivinga stop pin 56 mounttlll 23. The Shell is II QII I Wi sp ed on the wall 1for securing the safety shutto the shaft 19, and its base is rigidlysecured t i fl t ti b o d th tical i-' 2 to the wall 1.

p I Located within the shell 26, is arotatable end of the link 54, is aspring 57 which is fasdrlllh in ercep r 29 h ving P D arms tened to thecasing so as to quickly restore 30 adapted to move transversely throughthe safety shutter to the operative position horizontal P of lightforinterruptmg shown in Fig. 3 when the interceptor ceases tion shown inFig. 4. Secured to the upper 25 the light rays passing outwardly throught ti I the shell. The base of the interceptor is se- I th Operation fthis improved projec cured to the inner reduced end of the shaft .t thfil i f d d dl i f t f 19- by'means of a nut 31 threaded on the th lightt r 23 b means of the shaft. I sprockets and feeding claw, not shown,

30 The improved Safety Shutter herein Shown which are driven by thetrain of gears in the is disposed coaxiaiiy with respect the housing 2.During the normal operation'of interceptor and is adapted 0 he 'he y themachine, the. gear 18 rotates the intercep- DIl B t0 the interceptor yan improved tor 29 continuously for interrupting the light centrifugalclutch, which is operable upon rays I I 35 rotation of the interceptorfor shiftlng the A on asthe gear 18 starts to rotate for Shutter u Ofthe light F l h- I a driving the interceptor, the bodies 47 are In theform Shownythe improvfid saffiity thrown outwardly by centrifugal actionso Shutter c mpr an arm 32 p i fi with as to frictionally engage thedrum 44, where- I all elongated aperture i receiving one upon the drumis rotated for shifting the 40 end of Shaft which 1S rotatahiy safetyshutter 32 out of the light path. Rotaported within the hollow shaft 19.The shutti f th d 44 i li it d b th t f ter is secured to the shaft 34by a screw 35. pin 56, hi h engages th li k 54 so as t Formed On n end0f the arm (311p cure the safety shutter against movement which supportsa pm t disk 3 beyond the vertical position shown in Fig. 4. 45 fnrmedPreferably of heat revslsilng i After the drum is stopped by the link54.;the 11O The disk 37 is disposed ahsubstantialiy right governorbodies 47 on the rotating gear 18 angles to the arm 32 and is movableinto the merely li n the periphery of the drum. P of light directlybehind the apertures Upon the stopping of thedrive shaft 14, as 2 nd 23as shown In E Moiinted on for instance, when it is desired to display a50 the inner faceof the disk 37, is a wire mesh picture. the Spring 50urges h i whichdissipatesmuch Q i heat of the weights 47'inwardly out ofcontactwith the llsht y s as 9 prevent n y 9 t film drum and the spring57 quickly shifts the when the shutter 15 in operative posltlon- Asafety shutter to the position shown in Fig.

counter weight 39 is mounted on the opposite 3, Wh th di k 37 a d screen38 i- 55 end of the arm 32. g

The shaft 34 is preferably reduced at its light'aperture, much of theheat is dissipated central portion to provide an 011 chamber 40 d thefilm may be held any length of time communicating with an oil supplypipe 41 ith t i j through a port 42 in the shaft 19 and a cham- Althoughbut one specific embodiment of 6 her-43 located, between the bushings20. I this invention has been herein shown and de- The improvedcentrifugal clutch, which is scribed, it will be understood thatnumerous adapted to connect the safety shutter with details of theconstruction shown may be althe interceptor, includes the gear 18 anda-- tered or omitted withoutdeparting from thidrum 44 whlch 1s fast onthe shaft. 34. spirit of this invention as defined by the fol 05 Formedon the gear 18, adjacent the drum, is lowing-claims; I i

tioned in the light path directly behind the I claim:

1. In a cinematograph, a casing having a light aperture, illuminatingmeans behind said aperture for directing light rays through saidaperture, a rotatable member between said means and said aperture, aglass disk carried by said member and movable thereby into the path oflight, a metallic foraminous screen mounted on one side of said disk fordissipating some of the heat of the gays, and mechanism for rotatingsaid mem- 2. In a cinematograph, a casing having a light aperture, alamp behind said aperture for directing light rays forwardly, a safetyshutter comprising a rotatable arm, a clip on one end of said arm, aglass disk supported on said clip and movable into and out of the pathof light behind said aperture, a wire mesh screen mounted on one face ofsaid disk 'fordissipating some of the heat of the rays,

and mechanism for rotating said shutter.

3. vA cinematograph comprising a casing having a light aperture,illuminating means behind said aperture, a light interceptor locatedbetween said means and aperture'and adapted tobe rotated through thepath of light for interrupting the light rays, operating mechanism foractuating said interceptor, a rotatable safety shutter movable into thepath of light behind said aperture,

a pair of clutch elements connected respec-- tively to said interceptorand shutter, a pair of governor bodies connected to one of said elementsand movable radially into frictional engagement with the other of saidelements for rotating said shutter out of the light path upon therotation of said interceptor, means limiting the rotation of saidshutter, and a spring engaging said other element for normally shiftingsaid shutter into the path of light. r

4'. A cinematograph comprising-a casing having a light aperture,illuminating means behind said aperture, a light interceptor locatedbetween said means and aperture and adapter to be rotated through thepath of light for interrupting the light rays, operating'mechanism foractuating said interceptor, a rotatable safety shutter movable into thepath of light behind said aperture, said operating mechanism including agear connected to said interceptor for driving said interceptor, arotatable clutch element connected to said shutter, and a pair ofradially movable governor bodies carried directly onsaid gear andmovable into frictional engagement with said clutch element for rotatingsaid shutter out of the light path upon the rotation of saidinterceptor. v

5, A cinematograph comprising a casing having a light aperture,illuminatingimeans behind said aperture, a light interceptor locatedbetween said means and aperture and light for interrupting the lightrays, operating mechanism for actuating said interceptor, a rotatablesafety shutter movable into the path of light behind said aperture, saidops erating mechanism including a gear connected to said interceptor, arotatable clutch element connected to said shutter, a pair of radiallymovable governor bodies connected to said gear and movable outwardlyinto frictional engagement with said clutch element for rotating saidshutter out of the light path upon the rotation of said interceptor, anda spring connected to said" clutch element for normally urging saidshutter into the path of light. so

6. A cinematograph comprising a casing having a lightaperture, a lampbehind said aperture for directing light forwardly through saidaperture, a pair of concentrically arranged shafts rotatably mountedon'said casing, a light interceptor mounted on one of said shafts andlocated between'said lamp and aperture for interrupting the light rays,a safety shutter mounted on the other of said 7 shafts between said lampand aperture, operating mechanism including a gear on the interceptorshaft, pins on said gear, a ,clutch drum 011 the shutter shaft, a pairof radially movable governor bodies directly carried by said pins andmovable into frictional engage- 5 ment with said drum for shifting saidshutter out of the light path upon rotation of said interceptor, andmeans engaging said drum for limiting its rotation.

7. A cinematograph comprising a casing casing, a light interceptormounted on one of i said shafts and located between said lamp andaperture for interrupting the light rays, a safety shutter mounted onthe other of said shafts between said lamp and aperture, operatingmechanism including a gear fast on the interceptor shaft for drivingsaid interceptor, a clutch drum on the shutter shaft,

a pair of radially movable governor bodies mounted directly on said gearand adapted to frictionally engage said drum for shifting said shutterout of the light path upon rotation of said interceptor, and a springyieldingly restraining the outward movement of said bodies.

8. A cinematograph comprising a casing 1 having a light aperture, a lampbehind said aperture for directing light forwardly through saidaperture, a pair of concentrically arranged shafts rotatably mounted onsaid casing, a light interceptor mounted on one ofsaid shafts andlocated between said lamp and aperture for interrupting the light rays,

a safety shutter mounted on the other of said shafts between said lampand aperture, operating mechanism including a gear on theinterceptorshaft, a clutch drum on the shutter shaft, a pair of radiallymovable governor bodies mounted on said gear and adapted to frictionallyengage said drum for shifting w said shutter out of the light path uponrotation of said interceptor, a link connectedto said drum, a stopengaging said link for limiting the rotation of said shutter, and aspring" engaging said link for urging said shutter 10 into the lightpath upon the stopping of said gear.

Signed at 1930.

Chicagothis 31st day of March,

ABRAHAM SHAPIRO.

